They Kept The Lights Going

On a frigid
moonless night
in the middle of a calm
ocean a group of men
on a ship where
told they could go...

A group of men
on a sinking ship
were told they could go,
they could go
and save themselves...

none of them did.

they stayed at their post.

they kept the lights going
so people could see
to save themselves
and others....

they kept the lights going
to avoid
any more panic and confusion
than there already was....

they kept the lights going
so a group of lifeboats
in the middle of a dark ocean
would have some light to see by...

they kept the lights going
at the cost of their own
lives...

they kept the lights going
until the very end
until death had to come
and shut out
the lights,
in the last minutes....

they kept the lights going
until the end.

would we keep the lights going
until the end?

would we do our duty, our job,
despite being on a sinking
ship in the middle of the freezing dark ocean?


they kept the lights going,
until the end their ship had light.

for that,
they died heroes,
they died gentlemen,
and they died an inspiration
to the world.

they kept the lights going
until there was no more,
until the ocean had claimed them...

would you keep the lights going
until the ocean claimed you?